AKK Study in Improving Obesity and Metabolic Status in Children and Adolescents

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study of Akkermansia Muciniphila AKK PROBIO in Improving Obesity and Metabolic Abnormalities in Children and Adolescents Aged 7-18 Years

The problem of obesity among children and adolescents is becoming increasingly serious and may affect their health in adulthood. Researches have found that a type of probiotic in the intestinal tract - "Akkermansia muciniphila" (referred to as AKK), may help regulate metabolism and weight. Although it has shown effects in adults, its safety and efficacy in children and adolescents still need further verification.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of supplementing Akkermansia Muciniphila AKK PROBIO on weight, metabolic health and intestinal flora of obese children and adolescents aged 7 to 18.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Obesity; Obese Children and Adolescents; Obese Adolescents; Akkermansia Muciniphila
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Placebo (maltodextrin); Biological: AKK

Detailed Description

This study aims to evaluate the improvement effect of continuous supplementation with pasteurized inactivated Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK PROBIO) for 12 weeks on the body mass index z-score of obese children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years, and systematically explore its impact on metabolic health indicators, anthropometric indicators, and sleep, as well as to clarify the safety and tolerance of this intervention. Through the integrated analysis of metagenomics and non-targeted metabolomics, the potential mechanism by which AKK PROBIO regulate the intestinal microbiota and host metabolic profiles in children and adolescents is revealed, providing a scientific basis and biomarker support for the development of precision nutrition intervention strategies for childhood and adolescent obesity.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 100
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Qian Lin, Doctor; Phone Number: +86 13874820173; Email: linqian@csu.edu.cn
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Hongmei Zhao; Phone Number: +86 13975105334; Email: 364875977@qq.com

Study Locations

• China
  • Hunan
    • Changsha, Hunan, China
      • Xiangya School of Public Health
      • Contact: Qian Lin, Doctor; Phone Number: +86 13874820173; Email: linqian@csu.edu.cn
      • Contact: Chuxin Wang, Bachelor; Phone Number: +86 15367802575; Email: 45100409@qq.com
      • Sub-Investigator: Di Zhu, Bachelor

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age range: 7 years old to 18 years old (inclusive of boundary values), gender not restricted.
• Primary obesity: According to the WS/T 586-2018 standard issued by the National Health Commission of China, or the internationally recognized CDC/WHO standard, diagnosed as obesity (if BMI ≥ the 95th percentile of children of the same age and gender).
• The subjects and their legal guardians understand the research content, voluntarily participate and sign the written informed consent form (for guardians), and the informed consent form (for children aged 8 years and above).
• Able to comply with the research protocol, complete all visits and sample collection.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Have a definite endocrine disorder causing obesity (such as Cushing's syndrome, hypothyroidism), a genetic syndrome (such as Prader-Willi syndrome), or other known organic diseases.
• Have a severe primary disease of the liver, kidney, cardiovascular system, respiratory system or hematopoietic system, etc.
• Have used antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics or synbiotic products within 3 months prior to screening.
• Have a history of systemic use of glucocorticoids or other drugs that may affect weight and metabolism (such as metformin, systemic glucocorticoids, diuretics, etc.) within 1 month prior to screening.
• Subjects are allergic to any component of the study product (AKK probiotic capsules or placebo).
• Subjects are participating in other clinical trials.
• Have a history of severe gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• Other conditions as determined by the researcher to be unsuitable for participation in this study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Group; Placebo group (n=50): The subjects took one placebo capsule (containing inert ingredients such as maltodextrin) identical in appearance and taste to the AKK probiotic capsules before each breakfast and dinner every day for 12 consecutive weeks. After the study ended, the subjects in the placebo group could receive the same dose and specification of AKK probiotic capsules. Basic intervention: During the study period, both groups of subjects would receive unified and standardized health education, including the principles of balanced diet provided by registered dietitians and the physical activity suggestions provided by exercise rehabilitation specialists.	Drug: Placebo (maltodextrin); Placebo group (n=50): The subjects took one placebo capsule (containing inert ingredients such as maltodextrin) identical in appearance and taste to the AKK probiotic capsules before each breakfast and dinner every day for 12 consecutive weeks. After the study ended, the subjects in the placebo group could receive the same dose and specification of AKK probiotic capsules.
Experimental: AKK Group; This intervention trial intends to use pasteurized AKK PROBIO, with each dose containing the equivalent of 30 billion inactivated bacterial cells. AKK PROBIO is a research hotspot in the field of intestinal microecology. The pasteurized AKK PROBIO (belonging to prebiotics) have been proven to have good safety and metabolic improvement effects in adults. Compared to live bacterial preparations, the inactivated form has higher stability, a longer shelf life, and better safety. AKK group (n=50): The subjects take one AKK probiotic capsule orally before each breakfast and dinner every day, and the intervention lasted for 12 weeks. During the study period, both groups of participants will receive unified and standardized health education, which includes the principles of balanced diet provided by registered dietitians and the suggestions for physical activities provided by exercise rehabilitation specialists.	Biological: AKK; This intervention trial intends to use pasteurized AKK PROBIO, with each dose containing the equivalent of 30 billion inactivated bacterial cells. AKK PROBIO is a research hotspot in the field of intestinal microecology. The pasteurized AKK PROBIO (belonging to prebiotics) have been proven to have good safety and metabolic improvement effects in adults. Compared to live bacterial preparations, the inactivated form has higher stability, a longer shelf life, and better safety. AKK group (n=50): The subjects take one AKK probiotic capsule orally before each breakfast and dinner every day, and the intervention lasted for 12 weeks. During the study period, both groups of participants will receive unified and standardized health education, which includes the principles of balanced diet provided by registered dietitians and the suggestions for physical activities provided by exercise rehabilitation specialists.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Z - score	The Z-score for children (Z-score) is a statistical indicator that measures the deviation of children's growth indicators such as height (in meters), weight (in kilograms), and BMI (in kg/m^2) from the reference population of the same age and gender. It is used to assess nutritional status and growth development levels. The nutritional status can be judged by evaluating the height-for-age z-score (HAZ), weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), and weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) of children and BMI-for-age Z-score (BMIZ). The Z-score formula is: Z = (Measured value - Average value of the reference population) / Standard deviation of the reference population. Standard： ±2 : Normal range (95% healthy children); -2 ≤ Z < -1: Less than Normal; Z < -2： Growth retardation, low weight or emaciation (<-3 is severe); +1 ≤ Z ≤ +2： Overweight; +2 ≤ Z ≤ +3： Obesity; Z > +3： Severe obesity	During the baseline period (T0), the middle period (T1, 6 weeks), and the end of the intervention (T2, 12weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Dietary intake	The dietary intake of the research subjects was understood through 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaires (for the past month). The dietary and nutrient intake of the research subjects was evaluated through food diversity scores and the intake of energy and nutrients(converts the weekly intake volume (ml/g) into "servings per week"). A designed dietary frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate the regular and environmental dietary behaviors of adolescents in the past three months. The questionnaire is based on common dimensions of dietary behavior and mainly covers five core behavioral categories: having breakfast, having a late-night snack, having meals at school, eating alone, and using food delivery platforms. The frequency options for each category are "Never", "once a month or less", "2 to 3 times a month", "once a week", "2 to 3 times a week", "4 to 5 times a week", "once a day", "twice a day", and "three or more times a day".	At the baseline (T0), mid-term (T1, 6weeks), and the end of the intervention (T2, 12weeks)
Sleep quality (13- 18 years)	The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in Chinese was used to assess the subjective sleep quality of participants aged 13 to 18 years. This scale consists of 19 self-rated items and 5 other-rated items, and the scoring can yield 7 scoring items including sleep latency, sleep disorders, sleep quality, sleep duration, hypnotic drugs, sleep efficiency and daytime function. Each component score of the PSQI ranges from 0 to 3, with 3 indicating the greatest dysfunction or disturbance. The seven component scores are then summed to obtain a global PSQI score, which ranges from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality, with a score greater than 5 suggesting significant sleep difficulties. The evaluation of different dimensions of the scale will be separately described.	At the baseline period (T0), mid-term (T1, 6weeks), and the end of the intervention (T2, 12weeks)
Sleep quality (7- 12 years)	For children aged 7 to 12 years, the sleep questionnaire items were designed based on the CSHQ (Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire). It consists of 48 items (33 scoring items), and can assess specific sleep problems in eight aspects: poor sleep habits, sleep anxiety, irregular sleep duration, sleep breathing disorders, abnormal sleep patterns, daytime sleepiness, night awakenings, and prolonged sleep latency. CSHQ requires parents to recall their child's sleep patterns over the past 4 weeks, and to select the sleep condition that best represents the typical week for a 3-point Likert scale rating of "often" (5-7 times per week), "sometimes" (2-4 times per week), and "rarely" (0-1 time per week).	At the baseline period (T0), mid-term (T1, 6weeks), and the end of the intervention (T2, 12weeks)
Gastrointestinal symptoms	Gastrointestinal symptoms will be evaluated using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). The GSRS is a specific scale consisting of 15 items , with each item scored from 1 (no symptoms at all) to 7 (extremely severe symptoms). The GSRS was used to assess the occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms in the subjects over the past week, covering five types of digestive tract symptoms: reflux syndrome, abdominal pain syndrome, dyspepsia, diarrhea syndrome, and constipation syndrome. The total score is the sum of all items, with a higher score indicating a more severe condition.	At the baseline period (T0), mid-term (T1, 6weeks), and the end of the intervention (T2, 12weeks)
Stool Classification	The Bristol Stool Classification Scale (BSFS) was used to evaluate the type of stool. The BSFS is a widely used scale for assessing intestinal motility and can be used to understand the type of stool of the subjects over the past week. This scale presents the transformation from hard stool to watery stool through pictures of types one to seven. The seven types of stool are: Type 1: Separate hard lumps, like nuts (difficult to pass) Type 2: Sausage-shaped, but lumpy Type 3: Like a sausage but with cracks on its surface Type 4: Like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft (average stool) Type 5: Soft blobs with clear cut edges Type 6: Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stool (diarrhea) Type 7: Watery, no solid pieces, entirely liquid (diarrhea)	At the baseline period (T0), mid-term (T1, 6weeks), and the end of the intervention (T2, 12weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Central South University
• Collaborators: Hunan Children's Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Qian Lin, Doctor, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): June 6, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 12, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 22, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 15, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 3, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 1, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: obesity; Akkermansia muciniphila
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Overweight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Obesity; maltodextrin
• Other Study ID Numbers: HCHLL2026153

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No